No-flip jigsaw puzzle

ABSTRACT

A jigsaw-type puzzle has pieces that do not need to be flipped or turned prior to, or during assembly of the puzzle. The pieces have peripheral shapes or outlines that are symmetrical along at least one axis, with mirror images being printed on both sides of each piece so that either side of each piece can be used during assembly. Each piece shows a portion of a two-dimensional image, such that when the pieces are assembled, the two-dimensional image is completed. Each piece has first and second sides, with each piece portraying the same portion of the two-dimensional design, such that either side of any piece can be used to complete the puzzle. The invention is applicable to edge pieces, corner pieces and inner pieces, including square pieces with rounded tabs and voids that “interlock,” as well as non-traditional shapes, with or without interlocking joints, and tabs and voids with other shapes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to puzzles and, in particular, to a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that do not need to be turned over during assembly thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jigsaw puzzles are an enjoyable pastime for many individuals and families. Typically, many of the pieces are first turned over so that all pieces have the “picture side” facing upwardly. This can be time consuming, and delays the more enjoyable hunt for the right pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention improves upon existing jigsaw puzzles by providing a puzzle with pieces that do not need to be flipped or turned prior to, or during assembly. Instead, the pieces may be dumped from a box onto a table, spread out to remove unwanted overlapping of the pieces, and sorted or assembled immediately without having to look at the sides of the pieces that are facing the table. To accomplish this, the invention provides pieces with shapes that are symmetrical along at least one axis, and wherein mirror images are printed on both sides of each piece so that either side of each piece can be used during assembly.

A puzzle according to the invention includes a plurality of puzzle pieces, with each piece displaying a portion of a two-dimensional image, such that when the pieces are assembled, the two-dimensional image is completed. Each piece has first and second sides, with each displaying the same portion of the two-dimensional design, such that either side of any piece can be used to complete the puzzle.

In the preferred embodiment, each piece has an axis of symmetry, such that the portion of the design on one side of the piece, and the portion of the design on the other side of the piece, are mirror images of one another with respect to the axis of symmetry. The pieces may have flat edges with tabs and tab-receiving voids, and the axis of symmetry may be parallel to two of the opposing flat edges. The axis of symmetry may intersect opposing tabs or opposing voids, or may intersect a tab on one edge and a void on an opposing edge. ‘Edge pieces’ may have a straight edge with no tabs or voids, and the axis of symmetry may be perpendicular to the straight edge. The axis of symmetry may run diagonally through the piece, as might be the case with corner pieces.

“Jigsaw puzzle” in the context of the invention should be taken to include and type of puzzle with pieces having edges that form a larger image, picture or design when the edges of the pieces abut one another. This would include traditional, generally square pieces with rounded tabs and voids that “interlock,” as well as other, non-traditional shapes, with or without interlocking joints, and tabs and voids with non-rounded shapes.

The first and second sides of the pieces may be flat, and in spaced-apart planes, thereby defining a thickness. The puzzle may be provided with a box or other container to hold the pieces, and an image of the completed puzzle may be displayed on the box or container as a guide to assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a drawing that shows a puzzle piece with dual symmetry surrounded by other pieces assembling a portion of a design;

FIG. 1B shows the piece of FIG. 1A with images on both sides;

FIG. 1C shows the piece of FIG. 1B turned over about a vertical axis;

FIG. 1D shows the piece of FIG. 1B turned over about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 1E shows the piece of FIG. 1A with an alternative image on the flip side;

FIG. 1F shows the piece of FIG. 1E turned over about a vertical axis;

FIG. 1G shows the piece of FIG. 1E turned over about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 2A is a drawing that illustrates a puzzle piece having a singular axial symmetry;

FIG. 2B shows the piece of FIG. 2A turned over about a vertical axis;

FIG. 2C shows the piece of FIG. 2A turned over about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 3A is a drawing that depicts an edge piece having a singular symmetry with respect to an axis perpendicular to the edge;

FIG. 3B shows the piece of FIG. 3A turned over about a vertical axis;

FIG. 3C shows the piece of FIG. 3A turned over about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 4A is a drawing that shows an inner piece having a diagonal symmetry;

FIG. 4B shows the piece of FIG. 4A turned over about a vertical axis;

FIG. 4C shows the piece of FIG. 4B following a 90-degree counter-clockwise rotation;

FIG. 4D shows the piece of FIG. 4A turned over about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 4E shows the piece of FIG. 4B following a 90-degree clockwise rotation;

FIG. 5A is a drawing that shows a corner piece having a diagonal symmetry;

FIG. 5B shows the piece of FIG. 5A turned over about a vertical axis;

FIG. 5C shows the piece of FIG. 5B following a 90-degree counter-clockwise rotation;

FIG. 5D shows the piece of FIG. 5A turned over about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 5E shows the piece of FIG. 5B following a 90-degree clockwise rotation;

FIG. 6A shows a portion of larger puzzle with nine interlocking pieces constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6B shows the reverse side of the assembled puzzle portion of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now making reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1A depicts a puzzle piece 102 interlocking with adjacent pieces 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118. The assembled pieces complete a simplified design represented by visual element 120. As can be seen, piece 102 has two tabs 122, 124 and two voids 124, 126 and is symmetrical about two axes, X and Y. The X axis runs through the centers of voids 124, 126, whereas the Y axis divides tabs 122, 124.

FIG. 1B shows piece 102 isolated from the assembly, and also shows design element 120 printed on the back side of the piece as 120′, as though the piece 102 was transparent. Since the piece 102 is symmetrical about two orthogonal axes, there are different options for printing on the back side of the piece according to the invention. In FIG. 1B, design element 120′ is a mirror image of element 120 with respect to the Y axis. As can be seen in FIG. 1C, when this piece of FIG. 1B is flipped over with respect to the Y axis, the piece is identical to the piece prior to being turned and can this be used as shown in FIG. 1A. Even when the piece flipped over with respect to the X axis as shown in FIG. 1D, it can still be rotated and used as seen in FIG. 1A.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 1E, design element 120 may be printed on the back surface of the piece as a mirror image about the X axis as element 120″. As shown in FIGS. 1F, 1G, when the piece is flipped over either way it can be rotated and used as shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A shows a piece 202 that is only symmetrical about one axis, in this case the X axis, though this description remains the same Y-axis-only symmetry. With only one axis of symmetry, the design element 220 on the back side 220′ is mirrored about the X axis. As such, when the piece is flipped over about the X axis as shown in FIG. 2B, it is ready for placement, and when flipped about the Y axis it is likewise ready for placement after rotation.

The description relative to FIGS. 2A-2C apply to edge pieces as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. In this case the axis of symmetry X (or Y) of piece 302 is perpendicular to edge 304. As with other examples, tabs 306, 308 may be replaced with voids, and void 310 may be a tab. Design element 320 is mirrored about the axis X on the back side as 320′, such that the either side of the piece may be used to complete the puzzle like the pieces of FIGS. 1, 2 .

When a piece is not symmetrical about either X or Y, it may still be applicable to the invention if symmetrical about a 45-degree angle, as shown in FIGS. 4A-E. The same description applies to corner pieces such as the one shown in FIG. 5 . In FIG. 4A, the piece 402 is symmetrical about diagonal axis 406. As such, if design element 408 is printed on the back side as a mirror image of 408 as 408′, either side may again be used to complete the puzzle. FIG. 4B shows the piece flipped about the Y axis and rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise in FIG. 4C for placement, and FIG. 4D shows the piece flipped on the X axis and rotated 90 degrees clockwise and ready for placement.

FIGS. 5A-E show a corner piece 502 with a design element 508 mirrored about diagonal axis 506 on the reverse side of the piece as 508′. FIGS. 5B-5E show how either side of the same piece 502 may be used to complete the puzzle. Note that the voids 510 may be replaced with tabs. It will also be appreciated that if the design element for a piece has no symmetry (i.e., a piece with a solid color), the same color may be used on the back side without regard to the symmetry of the piece. This exception may be particularly advantageous for side and corner pieces.

FIG. 6A shows a portion of larger puzzle 600 with nine interlocking pieces 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618 constructed in accordance with the invention. FIG. 6B shows the reverse side of the assembled puzzle portion of FIG. 6A. As is evident from FIG. 6B, the back side of the assembled portion does not form a cohesive image as the various pieces have been transformed in accordance with the invention. To be clear, the invention is not a “two-sided” puzzle in the sense that the images on both sides are cohesive. Rather, the image on one side will be jumbled for the sake of expeditious assembly without having to turn over any pieces to get started.

Note in FIGS. 6A, B that since pieces 606, 612, 618 are all symmetrical about axis 620, the front and back images are the same, such that the “rules” of FIG. 1 apply. The same holds true of pieces 604, 610, 616, which are symmetrical about axis 622. Corner piece, however, is symmetrical about diagonal axis 602, and is printed on the back side according to FIG. 5 , and edge pieces 608, 614 are symmetrical about axes 608, 614 respectively, with the reverse printed per FIG. 2 .

Puzzles according to the invention may be constructed in any suitable manner, with the preferred method printing the completed image on one side, and the scrambled version on the reverse of thick card stock, using a die cutting press with a sharp, flat metal ribbon to stamp out the individual pieces. The invention is not limited in terms of manufacturing, however, as “printing” may be taken to include any image forming method including without limitation flexographic, lithographic, screen printing, and/or photographic, including digital techniques. Any substrate may be used including without limitation paper, cardboard, wood, plastic and metal, and cutting technologies such as water jet, laser, etc. may alternatively be used. The only important qualification is that the steps have sufficient precision that the outlines of the pieces on both sides are faithfully reproduced.

In the preferred embodiments, the puzzle pieces are generally square or rectangular with a plurality of outwardly protruding tabs and tab receiving voids. However, this, too, is not required by the invention, as other shapes may be used so long the pieces provide an axis of symmetry. Thus, for example, the edges of the pieces may be curved or jagged as opposed to straight. Tabs and voids are also not required if the pieces are held together or interlock through another mechanism such as magnetism, hook-and-look, static cling, etc. The pieces may be of any thickness, preferably in the range of ⅙ to ¼ inch, but the invention is not limited in this regard. Indeed, for very young children, the pieces may be cubes with the design reproduced on all six sides so that the child can assemble the puzzle with any side facing upwardly. 

1. A puzzle with pieces that do not need to be turned over to complete the puzzle, comprising: a plurality of puzzle pieces, each piece having one or more protruding tabs and one or more tab-receiving voids, and wherein a tab or void of each piece interlocks with a tab or void of an adjacent piece; each piece displaying a portion of a two-dimensional image, such that when the pieces are interlocked with one another, the two-dimensional image is completed; wherein each piece has first and second sides; and wherein each side of each piece displays a transformed version of the same portion of the two-dimensional design, such that either side of any piece can be used to complete the puzzle.
 2. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein: each piece has an axis of symmetry; and the portion of the design on one side of the piece, and the portion of the design on the other side of the piece, are mirror images of one another with respect to the axis of symmetry.
 3. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein: the tabs and tab-receiving voids are on flat edges; and the axis of symmetry is parallel to opposing flat edges.
 4. The puzzle of claim 3, wherein the axis of symmetry intersects opposing tabs or opposing voids.
 5. The puzzle of claim 4, wherein; the piece is an edge piece having a straight edge with no tabs or voids; and the axis of symmetry is perpendicular to the straight edge.
 6. The puzzle of claim 3, wherein the axis of symmetry intersects a tab on one edge and a void on an opposing edge.
 7. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein: the pieces have edges defining a square with two diagonals; and the axis of symmetry coincides with at least one of the diagonals.
 8. The puzzle of claim 7, wherein the piece is a corner piece having two flat edges without tabs or voids.
 9. The puzzle of claim 2, including inner pieces, side pieces and corner pieces with interlocking tabs and voids; wherein the corner pieces have two flat outer edges and the side pieces have one flat outer edge; and wherein the axis of symmetry intersects a tab or void on the inner and side pieces but not the corner pieces.
 10. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the first and second sides are flat and in spaced-apart planes defining a thickness.
 11. The puzzle of claim 1, including a box or other container to hold the pieces; and wherein the two-dimensional image is displayed on the box or container as a guide to assembling the puzzle.
 12. A method of assembling a puzzle, comprising the steps of: providing the puzzle pieces of claim 1 in a box or other container; removing the pieces from the box or container and placing the pieces on a surface; and assembling the puzzle without turning any of the pieces over.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two-dimensional image is displayed on the box or container as a guide to assembling the puzzle. 